CS vs CE vs EE ??

[AFB]

What are the pros and cons of them?

Background on me:
[*]I enjoy math, but I would die before I became an actuary
[*]I like to build/make things , but not physically (program etc)
[*]I find programing fun because you are always making something new and modiying old things
[*]I haven't got in to electronics much, but I would imagine that would be fun because of ^
[*]I have little social life and a few close friends and I like it that way

Any suggestions?

 

[MetalMat]

Originally posted by: amdfanboy
What are the pros and cons of them?

Background on me:
[*]I enjoy math, but I would die before I became an actuary
[*]I like to build/make things , but not physically (program etc)
[*]I find programing fun because you are always making something new and modiying old things
[*]I haven't got in to electronics much, but I would imagine that would be fun because of ^
[*]I have little social life and a few close friends and I like it that way

Any suggestions?

You like math, programming and have little social life? CS all the way.

 

[RabidMongoose]

Do all three!

 

[ugopk]

I just graduated with my BS in Computer Science and Engineering in June and my gf is a EE graduate. From the classes i took and what i've seen, EE doesn't involve building stuff much, +/- depending on the college you go to. Our univ. required 1 year project class for EE, which you sort of design and build some hardware stuff with minor microprocessor programming. From what i've seen, EE is a lot of math and theory. Expect to do a lot of calculus.

For CS, depending on what your emphasis is, would be either a lot of coding or a lot of theory. My emphasis is networking/security/software engineering, which is a good balance between theory and programming. But more theory than programming

 

[notfred]

you don't like making physical things, but you do like to program = CS.

CE would be designing computer chips and graphics cards and things.

EE is more general and would have you designing cell phones and TVs and stuff.

CS is mostly programming.

EDIT: These are the things you do with the degree, not the content of the classes.

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: ugopk
I just graduated with my BS in Computer Science and Engineering in June and my gf is a EE graduate. From the classes i took and what i've seen, EE doesn't involve building stuff much, +/- depending on the college you go to. Our univ. required 1 year project class for EE, which you sort of design and build some hardware stuff with minor microprocessor programming. From what i've seen, EE is a lot of math and theory. Expect to do a lot of calculus.

I would consider that building stuff

For CS, depending on what your emphasis is, would be either a lot of coding or a lot of theory. My emphasis is networking/security/software engineering, which is a good balance between theory and programming. But more theory than programming

My only major concern is that it will be around for a while or allow me to easily transision to something that will be. I do enjoyu network programing and I would have to say that would be my favorite.

EDIT: These are the things you do with the degree, not the content of the classes.

Yeah, that's the point right ?

 

[JDub02]

I have a Computer Engineering Degree. It is basically all of a Computer Science degree, a few more CS classes, and a couple of EE classes thrown in.

At this point, I almost wish I would have done Mech E or Civ E. I like building stuff a bit too much. Software can get a bit abstract for me, especially when coding for something that has no GUI. I have a hard time getting into it if I can't see tangible results.

 

[torpid]

Comp Sci only involves math during certain courses, and rarely in reality once you graduate.

If you are the type of person who always tries to learn new ideas and theories about something, and are good at applying theory to reality, then CS could be for you. If you don't like constantly learning things and keeping an open mind, and certainly if you are not too creative, avoid CS. The degree will be fine, but once you start to apply the knowledge, you'll either have to complete the remaining 70-90% of your learning in the real world or you'll be a horrible programmer who thinks they learned everything they needed to in school.

 

[RabidMongoose]

I haven't got in to electronics much, but I would imagine that would be fun because of ^

A lot of EE has little to do with making computers or televisions or cell phones or whatever...it is often at a more fundamental level.

I think you should go for CS from what you just said.

 

[Ameesh]

sounds like you described CS

 

[CanOWorms]

CS would be mainly programming type things.

CompE is everything from programming, designing chips, embedded systems, etc.

EE is everything from designing chips, fabrication, emag, photonics & optics, materials, etc. EE is very broad.

Hardware wise, CompE is generally closer to a product than EE. I think of them meeting at the chip design level. That and below is EE. That and above is CompE.

 

[konakona]

at our school CE stands for Civil Engineering, CompE is what i am doing hopefully i could get into companies like nvidia in the future, who knows

 

[Analog]

Well, I'm a faculty member in an EE program, and I can say that EE is broad enough for you to still do a lot of programming, while designing circuits. This is called embedded design - and is very popular these days. EE's need to write firmware for processors embedded in everything from rice cookers to automotive ABS.

In this area, you can use assembly language or high level languages like C/C++. In other embedded applications, you could be writing advanced control algorithms for digital signal processors (DSPs). Keep your options open, and remember, the first couple of years are basically the same in CE or EE.

 

[AFB]

So what's the difference in classes between CompE and CS? Could you do both?

 

[ChristmasKangaroo]

CE and EE are very similar and require many of the same classes (a lot of circuitry, math, theory, hardware, and programming). CS is quite different, as you will do software almost exclusively. You will get a healthy dose of Math, but not as much as an Engineer (unless you are a sadistic CS major and go to grad school). Your theory will be more along the line of algorithm complexity and you won't really ever touch hardware.

Bottom line is that you should pick CS if you want to be a programmer or IT professional. You should head towards the Engineering department if you want to work more with hardware. You can pick usually pick EE or CE after your first or second year in the program.

That being said, I find CE to be very versatile. I recently graduated with a CE degree and work as an EE that tends to do most of the programming when it is needed. Two of my friends who graduated from the same program are now straight up programmers.

 

[George P Burdell]

stay away from anything that has the word "computer" in it. (btw this coming from a CMPE)

 

[spidey07]

your major has very little to do with what your career will be.

so pick one that has a curiculum that you like.

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: spidey07
your major has very little to do with what your career will be.

so pick one that has a curiculum that you like.

Interesting. You did CS, right?

 

[ChristmasKangaroo]

Originally posted by: spidey07
your major has very little to do with what your career will be.

so pick one that has a curiculum that you like.

This is largely true... outside of engineering. If you don't have a degree that ABET approves, your chances of getting hired as an Engineer are slim to none.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: ChristmasKangaroo

Originally posted by: spidey07
your major has very little to do with what your career will be.

so pick one that has a curiculum that you like.

This is largely true... outside of engineering. If you don't have a degree that ABET approves, your chances of getting hired as an Engineer are slim to none.

Very very true.

Also I know at my school they phased out CE and EE as majors and changed it to "EECS" or something like that where it is essentially both combined because both were so similar (something like 5 classes seperated the two- i know a lot of EEs who decided to double with the CE). It isn't something i'm too concerend with being a BME here

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: amdfanboy

Originally posted by: spidey07
your major has very little to do with what your career will be.

so pick one that has a curiculum that you like.

Interesting. You did CS, right?

CS and EE at purdue. I work with highly talented people. Some are CS, others are EE, some are forestry.

they're very bright none the less.

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: amdfanboy

Originally posted by: spidey07
your major has very little to do with what your career will be.

so pick one that has a curiculum that you like.

Interesting. You did CS, right?

CS and EE at purdue. I work with highly talented people. Some are CS, others are EE, some are forestry.

they're very bright none the less.

How was the work load having two(?) majors?

 

[spidey07]

Work loads were equally difficult.

CS was school of science so I had to take a boatload of science

IIRC about 20 hours of "electives" were traded and I got both. two more math classes and I had a triple (CS, EE, math)

but I wouldn't recommend it. College is so much more than the degree you get and if you can't interact with people then one has learned nothing.

 

[gflores]

Doesn't EE also involve some programming. My brother is an EE and he is doing some sort of programming at Northrop Grumman.

 

[ChristmasKangaroo]

EE and CE are fairly broad categories. EE's at my school had to take a minimum of 5 programming classes (C for Engineers, advanced C++, intro to ASM, advanced ASM, and numerical methods) and could take several others as their engineering electives. CE's add a couple more on top of that. You could certainly take even more as general electives, if you don't mind staying around for more than 4 years. As an EE you are certainly qualified to do most programming jobs, and some programming positions might require an engineering degree. For example, if you will be doing a large amount of control systems design, signal processing, or low level work an engineering degree would the employer might like to know that you thoroughly understand what you are coding.